April 27, 2004

A.M. NO. 03-05-01-SC

ADOPTING THE NEW CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT FOR THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIARY

WHEREAS, at the Round Table Meeting of Chief Justices held at the Peace Palace. The
Hague, on 25–26 November 2002, at which the Philippine Supreme Court was represented by
the Chief Justice and Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno, the Bangalore Draft of the Code of
Judicial Conduct adopted by the Judicial Group on Strengthening Judicial Integrity was
deliberated upon and approved after incorporating therein several amendments; THCSEA

WHEREAS, the Bangalore Draft, as amended, is intended to be the Universal Declaration

of Judicial Standards applicable in all judiciaries;
WHEREAS, the Bangalore Draft is founded upon a universal recognition that a competent,
independent and impartial judiciary is essential if the courts are to ful ll their role in upholding
constitutionalism and the rule of law; that public con dence in the judicial system and in the
moral authority and integrity of the judiciary is of utmost importance in a modem democratic
society; and, that it is essential that judges, individually and collectively, respect and honor
judicial of ce as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain con dence in the judicial
system;
WHEREAS, the adoption of the universal declaration of standards for ethical conduct of
judges embodied in the Bangalore Draft as revised at the Round Table Conference of Chief
Justices at The Hague is imperative not only to update and correlate the Code of Judicial
Conduct and the Canons of Judicial Ethics adopted for the Philippines, but also to stress the
Philippines' solidarity with the universal clamor for a universal code of judicial ethics. CDTAbench

NOW, THEREFORE, the Court hereby adopts this New Code of Judicial Conduct for the
Philippine Judiciary.
CANON 1
Independence
Judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee
of a fair trial. A judge shall therefore uphold and exemplify judicial independence in both its
individual and institutional aspects.
SECTION 1. Judges shall exercise the judicial function independently on the basis of
their assessment of the facts and in accordance with a conscientious understanding of the law,
free of any extraneous in uence, inducement, pressure, threat or interference, direct or indirect,
from any quarter or for any reason.
SECTION 2. In performing judicial duties, Judges shall be independent from judicial
colleagues in respect of decisions which the judge is obliged to make independently.
SECTION 3. Judges shall refrain from in uencing in any manner the outcome of
litigation or dispute pending before another court or administrative agency.
SECTION 4. Judges shall not allow family, social, or other relationships to in uence
judicial conduct or judgment. The prestige of judicial of ce shall not be used or lent to advance
the private interests of others, nor convey or permit others to convey the impression that they
are in a special position to influence the judge.
SECTION 5. Judges shall not only be free from inappropriate connections with, and
in uence by, the executive and legislative branches of government, but must also appear to be
free therefrom to a reasonable observer.
SECTION 6. Judges shall be independent in relation to society in general and in
relation to the particular parties to a dispute which he or she has to adjudicate.
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 SECTION 7. Judges shall encourage and uphold safeguards for the discharge of
judicial duties in order to maintain and enhance the institutional and operational independence
of the judiciary.
SECTION 8. Judges shall exhibit and promote high standards of judicial conduct in
order to reinforce public con dence in the judiciary which is fundamental to the maintenance of
judicial independence.
CANON 2
Integrity
Integrity is essential not only to the proper discharge of the judicial of ce but also to the
personal demeanor of judges.
SECTION 1. Judges shall ensure that not only is their conduct above reproach, but
that it is perceived to be so in the view of a reasonable observer.
SECTION 2. The behavior and conduct of judges must reaf rm the people's faith in
the integrity of the judiciary. Justice musty not merely be done but must also be seen to be
done.
SECTION 3. Judges should take or initiate appropriate disciplinary measures against
lawyers or court personnel for unprofessional conduct of which the judge may have become
aware.
CANON 3
Impartiality
Impartiality is essential to the proper discharge of the judicial of ce. It applies not only
to the decision itself but also to the process by which the decision to made.
SECTION 1. Judges shall perform their judicial duties without favor, bias or prejudice.
SECTION 2. Judges shall ensure that his or her conduct, both in and out of court,
maintains and enhances the con dence of the public, the legal profession and litigants in the
impartiality of the judge and of the judiciary.
SECTION 3. Judges shall, so far as is reasonable, so conduct themselves as to
minimize the occasions on which it will be necessary for them to be disquali ed from hearing
or deciding cases.
SECTION 4. Judges shall not knowingly, while a proceeding is before, or could come
before, them make any comment that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of
such proceeding or impair the manifest fairness of the process. Nor shall judges make any
comment in public or otherwise that might affect the fair trial of any person or issue.
SECTION 5. Judges shall disqualify themselves from participating in any
proceedings in which they are unable to decide the matter impartially or in which it may appear
to a reasonable observer that they are unable to decide the matter impartially. Such
proceedings include, but are not limited to, instances where
(a) The judge has actual bias or prejudice concerning a party or personal knowledge
of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceedings;
(b) The judge previously served as a lawyer or was a material witness in the matter in
controversy;
(c) The judge, or a member of his or her family, has an economic interest in the
outcome of the matter in controversy;
(d) The judge served as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or lawyer in the
case or matter in controversy, or a former associate of the judge served as
counsel during their association, or the judge or lawyer was a material witness
therein;
(e) The judge's ruling in a lower court is the subject of review;
(f) The judge is related by consanguinity or affinity to a party litigant within the sixth
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 civil degree or to counsel within the fourth civil degree; or
(g) The judge knows that his or her spouse or child has a financial interest, as heir,
legatee, creditor, fiduciary, or otherwise, in the subject matter in controversy or in a
party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be substantially affected
by the outcome of the proceedings;
SECTION 6. A judge disquali ed as stated above may, instead of withdrawing from
the proceeding, disclose on the records the basis of disquali cation. If, based on such
disclosure, the parties and lawyers independently of the judge's participation, all agree in
writing that the reason for the inhibition is immaterial or unsubstantial, the judge may then
participate in the proceeding. The agreement, signed by all parties and lawyers, shall be
incorporated in the record of the proceedings.
CANON 4
Propriety
Propriety and the appearance of propriety are essential to the performance of all the
activities of a judge.
SECTION 1. Judges shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all
of their activities.
SECTION 2. As a subject of constant public scrutiny, judges must accept personal
restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so
freely and willingly. In particular, judges conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with the
dignity of the judicial office.
SECTION 3. Judges shall, in their personal relations with individual members of the
legal profession who practice regularly in their court, avoid situations which might reasonably
give rise to the suspicion or appearance of favoritism or partiality. cADEIa

SECTION 4. Judges shall not participate in the determination of a case in which any
member of their family represents a litigant or is associated in any manner with the case.
SECTION 5. Judges shall not allow the use of their residence by a member of the
legal profession to receive clients of the latter or of other members of the legal profession.
SECTION 6. Judges, like any other citizen, are entitled to freedom of expression,
belief, association and assembly, but in exercising such rights, they shall always conduct
themselves in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of the judicial of ce and the impartiality
and independence of the judiciary.
SECTION 7. Judges shall inform themselves about their personal duciary nancial
interests and shall make reasonable efforts to be informed about the nancial interests of
members of their family.
SECTION 8. Judges shall not use or lend the prestige of the judicial of ce to advance
their private interests, or those of a member of their family or of anyone else, nor shall they
convey or permit others to convey the impression that anyone is in a special position
improperly to influence them in the performance of judicial duties.
SECTION 9. Confidential information acquired by judges in their judicial capacity shall
not be used or disclosed by for any other purpose related to their judicial duties.
SECTION 10. Subject to the proper performance of judicial duties, judges may:
(a) Write, lecture, teach and participate in activities concerning the law, the legal
system, the administration of justice or related matters;
(b) Appear at a public hearing before an official body concerned with matters
relating to the law, the legal system, the administration of justice or related
matters;

(c) Engage in other activities if such activities do not detract from the dignity of the
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 judicial office or otherwise interfere with the performance of judicial duties.
SECTION 11. Judges shall not practice law whilst the holder of judicial office.
SECTION 12. Judges may form or join associations of judges or participate in other
organizations representing the interests of judges.
SECTION 13. Judges and members of their families shall neither ask for, nor accept,
any gift, bequest, loan or favor in relation to anything done or to be done or omitted to be done
by him or her in connection with the performance of judicial duties.
SECTION 14. Judges shall not knowingly permit court staff or others subject to their
in uence, direction or authority, to ask for, or accept, any gift, bequest, loan or favor in relation
to anything done or to be done or omitted to be done in connection with their duties or
functions.
SECTION 15. Subject to law and to any legal requirements of public disclosure,
judges may receive a token gift, award or bene t as appropriate to the occasion on which it is
made provided that such gift, award or bene t might not reasonably be perceived as intended
to in uence the judge in the performance of judicial duties or otherwise give rise to an
appearance of partiality.
CANON 5
Equality
Ensuring equality of treatment to all before the courts is essential to the due
performance of the judicial office.
SECTION 1. Judges shall be aware of, and understand, diversity in society and
differences arising from various sources, including but not limited to race, color, sex, religion,
national origin, caste, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, social and economic
status and other like causes.
SECTION 2. Judges shall not, in the performance of judicial duties, by words or
conduct, manifest bias or prejudice towards any person or group on irrelevant grounds.
SECTION 3. Judges shall carry out judicial duties with appropriate consideration for
all persons, such as the parties, witnesses, lawyers, court staff and judicial colleagues, without
differentiation on any irrelevant ground, immaterial to the proper performance of such duties.
SECTION 4. Judges shall not knowingly permit court staff or others subject to his or
her in uence, direction or control to differentiate between persons concerned, in a matter
before the judge on any irrelevant ground.
SECTION 5. Judges shall require lawyers in proceedings before the court to refrain
from manifesting, by words or conduct, bias or prejudice based on irrelevant grounds, except
such as are legally relevant to an issue in proceedings and may be the subject of legitimate
advocacy.
CANON 6
Competence and Diligence
Competence and diligence are prerequisites to the due performance of judicial office.
SECTION 1. The judicial duties of a judge take precedence over all other activities.
SECTION 2. Judges shall devote their professional activity to judicial duties, which
include not only the performance of judicial functions and responsibilities in court and the
making of decisions, but also other tasks relevant to the judicial of ce or the court's
operations.
SECTION 3. Judges shall take reasonable steps to maintain and enhance their
knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for the proper performance of judicial
duties, taking advantage for this purpose of the training and other facilities which should be
made available, under judicial control, to judges.
SECTION 4. Judges shall keep themselves informed about relevant developments of
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 international law, including international conventions and other instruments establishing human
rights norms.
SECTION 5. Judges shall perform all judicial duties, including the delivery of reserved
decisions, efficiently, fairly and with reasonable promptness.
SECTION 6. Judges shall maintain order and decorum in all proceedings before the
court and be patient, digni ed and courteous in relation to litigants, witnesses, lawyers and
others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity. Judges shall require similar conduct of
legal representatives, court staff and others subject to their influence, direction or control.
SECTION 7. Judges shall not engage in conduct incompatible with the diligent
discharge of judicial duties.
Definitions
In this Code, unless the context otherwise permits or requires, the following meanings
shall be attributed to the words used:
"Court staff" includes the personal staff of the judge including law clerks.
"Judge" means any person exercising judicial power, however designated.
"Judge's family" includes a judge's spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and
any other relative by consanguinity or af nity within the sixth civil degree, or person who is a
companion or employee of the judge and who lives in the judge's household.
This Code, which shall hereafter be referred to as the New Code of Judicial Conduct for
the Philippine Judiciary, supersedes the Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial
Conduct heretofore applied in the Philippines to the extent that the provisions or concepts
therein are embodied in this Code: Provided, however, that in case of de ciency or absence of
speci c provisions in this New Code, the Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial
Conduct shall be applicable in a suppletory character.
This New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary shall take effect on the
rst day of June 2004, following its publication not later than 15 May 2004 in two newspapers
of large circulation in the Philippines to ensure its widest publicity.HCEcaT

Promulgated this 27 day of April 2004.

(SGD.) HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR.

Chief Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) REYNATO S. PUNO

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(on leave)
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 RENATO C. CORONA
Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) ROMEO J. CALLEJO, SR.

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) JOSE C. VITUG

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) ANGELINA SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) CONCHITA CARPIO-MORALES

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD.) ADOLFO S. AZCUNA

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

(SGD) DANTE O. TINGA

Associate Justice
Supreme Court of the Philippines

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